Booster fan and support



Oct. 19, 1943. J, BREESEl E1- AL 2,331,958

' BOOSTER FAN AND SUPPORT Filed June 16, 1941 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1.fawzemraye @ucefager Y an y y ef-ffy Jafar/Myx Oct. 19, 1943. 1 -LBREESE ETAL Y 2,331,958

.BOOSTER FAN AND SUPPORT Filed June 16, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 3T 42 @MMMOct. 19, 1943. J, l.. BREESE ETYAL BOOSTER FAN AND fSUPPORT Filed June1e, 1941 s sheets-sheet s side elevation;

' thepot. The pot may,

lon a flange 1 desired, which Patented a. 19,y 194s UNITED STATE s PATENT -ori-ICE 'Boos'rnn FAN am) surron'r James L. Breese and Bruce Hayter,Santa Fe,v

' N. Mex., and Stanley Perry, Chicago, lll.. as-

siinors to 'Oil Devices, Santa Fe, N. Mex.,-a limlgted partnership ofIllinois4 ,i

application .Tune 1c, 1941, serial No. 3981292 l 113 Claims. (Cl.230-117) lbooster motor andsupport therefor as may be removed from a pottype .l for example through an air inlet duct of readily inserted in andburner,

restricted cross sectional area.

'..Another purpose is the provision of an improved supporting andspacing means whereby the booster motor and its fan areautomaticallyproperly positioned in relation to the burner pot.

Other purposes will appear-from time to ltime "1n the courseLof thespecication and claims.

The invention fis illustrated more or'less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical axial section with parts in Fig12 is a similarsection on an enlarged scale, illustrating a booster motor and faninposition: F1F13. 3 is a plan view of the structure shown in 8. l Fig. 4is a similar plan view on a slightly smaller scale, of a variant form ofthe device Fig. 5 is a section on the line G+S of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is asectlonon the line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a variant form of the device; andv Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8- 8 of Fig. 7. Like parts areindicated by like symbols throughout the s iilcation and drawings.

Referring to the drawings,

air inlets 2 located at various levels. Any suit.- able means may beemployed for admitting seciA generally indicates a burner pot having aplurality of primary' ondary air, but we illustrate herein a top row oft secondary air inlet apertures 3 of greater diam,-

eter and closer in spacing than the.primary air inlet apertures the topof the I not having a central aperture 5. 6 is an outer air housing ordrum surrounding for example, be supported inwardly extending from thedrum 6. The ,drum is preferably substantially air tight, except for anlaperture 8 in the drum bottom 8. 'I'he aperture 8 is aligned with thecenter of the bottom of the pot l, and the bottom- 8 is spacedsuiilciently downwardly from the bottom of the pot ito permit thepositioning therein ofthe fan structure below described.

`.An air inlet passage it maybe employed, if

may communicate with an en- 2. 4 is-any suitable nre ring at.

larges portion u secured' tc the bottom' of the drumri. It will beunderstood that, solar as the securing meansof the fan motor areconcerned;

the members i0 and I I .may be omitted, but suchpassages or theirequivalent are frequently 'employed in connection with pot type burnerin. stallations in which booster fans are employed.

One of the problems is the ready insertion and removal of booster motorsand fans without the necessity o'f the removal of such air ducts"as theducts Iii.

I2 generally indicates' ax motor supporting plate, with which isassociated a motor housing il. The details of themotor do riot` formpart of the present invention. It will be understood," j however, thatany suitable motor means, for example an alternating current motor, maybe enclosed within' the housing i2, andmay `be .pro-

vided with an exterior fan shaft i5, which carries Va hub i6. Extendingoutwardlyfrom the hub I6 are'any suitable generally radial fanblades I1.I8 is any suitable Vjunction box, the details of winch do not formpartof the present invention. It may also be secured to the plate' I2. Theplate'p motor, junction box and fan are of. such overall dimensions asto permit their insertion through the end of the conduit i0. Theoperator may then thrust the assembly so formed up toward the aperture9.

In orderto provide more accurate positioning and securing of the motorand fan assembly in the aperture 8, the following structure is provided:Radiating from a central securing plate 20 fare a plurality of wirefingers 2|, notched as at 22 and secured at their lower ends, s at 23,to the plate I2. A third finger` 24 i notched, as at, and ,is providedwith anA inwardly extending offset 28 guided in' any suit- 4 A movement`or ilexure of the linger 24 in response to the thrust of the spring 26.'I'he ilngersll and are soproportioned, and the notches 22 and 25 are sospaced, that the notches receive the edges oi" the aperture 9. Thespring 26"pejr mits the finger 24 to recede yielding'ly toward thecenter of the fan, so that the fingers may be thrust up through theaperture 9. The outward bends bly through the aperture .l .and serve ascams to' Similarly of the ngers below thei notches 22 limitv4 theupwardmovement of the supporting assemresponse to the expansion of thespring 26, once the upper portion of the supporting assembly has beenthrust up through the aperture 9.

. In use the operator may first position the assembly as shown in Fig.1, with the notch 2u abutting against the edge of the aperture 9. Hethen pivots the assembly until it is in the position of Fig. 2. 'I'hespring 26 and the ilexure of the finger 24 permit the securing assemblyto` be snapped into the position in which it isshown in Fig. 2, and thespring thereafter keeps Vthe finger 24 spread out in securing position.However, ify the operator wishes to remove the assembly, all he has todo is to thrust inwardly against the assembly, which causes the notchesof the arms 2| to clear the edge'of the aperture 9. He can thentilt theassembly down into the position in which it is shown in Fig. -1 andwithdraw it through the passage I8. It will be understood that anychanges in detail may be made. Illustrated for example, in Figs. 4

and following, is a form in which fingers 40 are provided, with a loop40a, which interlocks with the free end 41a of the opposite finger 4I,which 'has a bottom loop, as at 42, and performs the function of thespring 26 of Fig. 2. All three fingers have securing notches, as at 43.Ineach case the parts are so proportioned that. -whe'n the device orassembly is sprung into place, the fan shaft l5 is vertically alignedwith the 'desired point in the bottom of the pot I, preferably thecenter thereof.

With the fan vanes located in the space between the drum bottom 8 andthe bottom of the pot I, air is delivered radially outwardly and mayrise in the space between the side wall of the,

pot I and the drum wall 6, thus providing the necessary air supply forcombustion going on within the pot.

It will be understood that any suitable means for energizing the motorcircuit may be employed, not herein shown. The motor maybe operatedeither continuously or intermittently, depending upon the circuit usedand the need of the particular installation. Any suitable pilot .meansmay be employed for the pot, including a pilot nozzle 50, which servesalso as means for delivering fuel at all stages of the re. 5| is aliquid fuel line extending to a source of liquid fuel not herein shown.It will be understood that it may be controlled by any suitable valvemeans not herein shown.

- It -will be realized that, whereas we have described and illustrated apractical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made inthe size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention. We therefore wish our description anddrawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic,rather than as limiting us to our precise showing.

It will be understood, for example, that, where-I as it may beadvantageous to position the booster unit adjacent or in verticalalignment with the bottom of the pot, it is also practical to locate itelsewhere, for example at the inlet of or along the length of thepassage I0.

Referring tothe vform of Figs. 7 and 8, 8 indicates any suitable drumbottom or skirt, or the like, with an aperture of the proper size 9'.-The.

motor and fan unit is identical with that shown in the other figuresexcept that it employs a plurality of guard wires 15, which need n'othave a spring function and which have an inwardly offset portion 16terminating in an upward projection 11, which may be connectedY by amember 18 to provide a firm structure. In the other forms the fan guardwires themselves serve as locking means for locking the unit in place.In the form 5 of Figs. 7 and 8, however, we illustrate a bale 80 of wireor the like, which is pivoted as at 8l on Ithe plate 8 and which may be.swung into the latching positionnshown in full line in Fig. 8, at whichtime it engages a notch 83 in a latch element or cam 82 on the housingI3. The bale is preferably of spring 'stock and it is stretched fby thecam portion of the member 82 sufficiently to have a'rm locking actionwhen it seats in the notch 83. It is prevented from traveling over lf,center by the outward or downward projection 84.

The use and operation of our invention 'are as We provide a booster unit'in which a motor fan, fan guard and unit securing means are associatedin 'such fashion that the unit may readily be applied or removed. Whereit is desired to locate the unit adjacent the pot, it may be made .ofsuch size in relation to the duct i0, or the diameter of the duct I0 isso proportioned, that 25, the unit may readily be thrust inwardlythrough the duct and snapped into place, as shown in Fig. l. A wire clipis eective to secure the unit in -position in any aperture,4such as theaperture in the partition 8. Y While we illustrate the unit as clippedin place in the central aperture of the partition 8, it will beunderstood, of course, that the device may be located at any point alongthe air duct i0 and may, for example, be conveniently clipped intoposition at the inlet end of the duct I0.

One of the purposes of the wire structure is the provision of a fanguard. The fan is of necessity a rather delicate part or instrument andmust be protected. It will be observed that the fan guard is built on aradius rather than being on a. vertical plane. In other words, the fanstructure extends upwardly about the fan and then inwardly toward theaxis of rotation of the fan at a level above the fan. This protects thefan from being damaged in the insertion of the un'it and in practice theunit can be in a sense rolled into position without causing the delicatevanes of the fan to contact the edges ofthe aperture through which thefan is inserted.

It will be understood that in all forms of the device herein shown, thefan and motor unit can be mounted in any suitable abutment member orplate, which may for convenience be aligned with the bottom of the pot,but need not be so. In

located'at any point below or adjacent the pot or in the line ofdelivery of air to the pot is suffin cient. In the form of Figs. 1 to 6,the wire fan 'guards serve also as locking means for locking the motorand fan unit inv position. In the forms of Figs. 7 and 8 we illustrate amechanism in which the bale may. be mounted on the air skirt orapertured plate, and the wire fan guards 15 serve v merely as centeringand positioning means and` other words, any suitable air skirt or memberf in which the unit is positioned.

partition,including a plurality of notched fingers upwardly extendingfrom said plate about said fan, one or more of said ngers beingyieldingly movable inwardly towardv the other fingers, wherebyl topermit the insertion of the supporting assembly in said'aperture, thevanes of said fan being located above the notches of said fingerswhereby, when the assembly is in position, the motor is located at oneside o'f the supporting partition and the fan on the other.

2. In abooster motor and fan assembly, a supporting plate, a motorhousing, a motor mounted on said supporting plate, a fan shaftAextending upwardly from said motor housing and plate, a

fan on said fan shaft, and a supporting assembly lng limitingfoifsetsadapted' removably to engage the edges of any aperture inwhich theunitis 3. In a booster fan unit'for burners and means for removablysupporting it in an aperture, a fan motor, a fan shaft extending fromsaid motor, a fan on said shaft, and a combined fan guard and supportingmeans for the unit, including a plurality of guard members upwardlyextending from said` motor about said fan, the upper ends of said Vguardmembers extending generally radially inwardly toward the axis of thefari, said guard members having locking. o'sets adapted removably toengage the edges of any aperture in which the unit is positioned, saidmembers being inwardly exible, and means for urging them outwardly andfor thereby maintaining said locking offsets in locking contact with theedges of any aperture in which the unit is positioned. f

rality of guard members upwardly extending from said motor about saidfan, said guard memh Ybers having locking osets adapted removably toengage the edges .of any aperture in which the unit is positioned, saidmembers being inwardly flexible, and means for urging them outwardly'and for thereby maintaining said locking offsets in locking contact withthe edges of any aperture 5. In a booster fan unit for burner and meansfor removably supporting if; in an aperture, afan motor, a fan shaftextending from said motor, a

f an on said shaft, a combined fanguard Vand 60 centering means for `theunit, including a plurality of guardmembers extending from said motorand about said fan, said guard members having limiting offsets adaptedremovably to engage f the' edges of any aperture in which the 'unit ispositioned, and vmeans vfor locking the unit inl wnfan"ori'sa. id shaft,a combined fan guard and centering meanssfor lthe unit, including'aplurality of guard members extendingv from said motor and about saidfan, said guard members havpositioned, and means for locking the unit inpo'- sition with said limiting offsets in engagement with the edges ofsaid aperture, including a bale mounted adjacent saidaperture.

'L In a motor and fan assembly unit and means for removably supportingit in an aperture, a

support, a motor mounted onsaid support, a, fan

shaft'extending'ffrom said motor, f an vanes on said fan shaft, andsecuring means for-securing said unit in an aperture, with the `fanvanes located on the opposite -side of said aperture from the motorsupport, which includes securing elements extending outwardly from saidsupport and about saidfan shaft and fan vanes, said elements havingpositioning portions adapted removably to engage the edges ofsuchanaperture, and x the relationship between the motor and fan unitand the vwalls of the aperture.

8. In a motor and fan assembly unit and means for removably supportingit in .an aperture, a

support, a motor mounted on said support, a fan shaft extending fromsaid motor,- .fan'vanes on said fan shaft, and securing means' forsecuring said unit in an aperture, with. the fan lvanes located on ,theopposite sideI of said aperture from the motor support, whichincludessecuring ele- Y supporting means for the unit, including a pluonsaid fan shaft, and securing means for securmotor.

ments extending outwardly from said support and about said fan shaft andfan. vanes, said elements having positioning portions adapted removablyto engage the edges of such anaperture, and fix the relationship betweenthe motor and fan unit and the walls of the aperture, said positioningportions including oifsets in said elements;

9. In a, motor and fan-assembly unit and means for removably supportingit in an aperture, a

support, a motor mounted on said support, a fan shaft extending fromsaid motor, fan vanes on said fan shaft, and securing means for securingsaid unit in an aperture, with'the fan vanes lo- 10. In a motor and fanassembly unit and means for removably supporting it in an aperture, asupport, a motor mounted on said support, afan shaft extending from saidmotor, fan vanes ing saidl unit in an aperture, with the fan vaneslocated on the opposite side ofsaid aperture from the motor support,which includes securing elements extending outwardly from said supportand about said fan shaft and fan vanes, said elee ments havingpositioning portions adapted removably to engagethe edges of such anaperture,

and x the relationship between the motor and fan unit and thewalls ofthe aperture, said positioning portions including notches in saidelements, said elements being in yielding association with each otherwhereby said notches are normally yieldingly thrust against the edgesofthe aperture.

" 11. In a motor-and fanassembly unitarid' means for removablysupportingit in an u aperture, a support, a motor mounted on said support, a fanshaft extending from said motor, fanvanes on said fan shaft, andsecuring means for securing said unit in an aperture, with the fan vaneslocated on the opposite side of said aperture from the motor support,which includes securing elements extending outwardly from said supportand about said vfan shaft and fan vanes, said elements havingpositioning portions adapted removably to engage the edges of such anaperture, and fix the relationship between the motor and fan unit andthe walls of the aperture, said elements including portions adapted tosurround and serve as guard' means for the fan vanes. f

12. In a .motor and fan assembly unit and means for removably supportingit in an aperture, a support, a motor mounted on said support, a fanshaft extending from said motor, fan vanes on said fan shaft. andsecuring means for securing said unit in an aperture, with the fan vaneslocated on the opposite side of said aperture from the motor support,which includes securing elements extending. outwardly' from said supportand about said fan shaft and fan vanes, said elements having positioningportions adapted re movably to engage the edges of such an aperture, andfix the relationship between the motor I with the walls of saidaperture.

a fan shaft extending from said motor, fan vanesY on said fan shaft, andsecuring means for securing said unit in an aperture, with the fan vaneslocated on the vopposite side of said aperture from the motor support,which includes securing elements extending outwardiy from said supportand about said fan shaft and fan vanes, said elements having positioningportions adapted re.

movably to engagethe edges of such an aperture, and fix the relationshipbetween the motor and fan unit and the walls of the aperture, saidelements including a plurailty of wires secured at one end in relationto the motor and secured at their opposite ends to each other.

JAIWES L. BREESE. BRUCE HAYTER. STANLEY PERRY.

